Isn’t love wonderful? I’m not talking about the starry-eyed stuff of fairy tales; but the kind of love that is a verb – an action word – a living demonstration.

I remember a visit with my daughter, Riley, and her husband, Josh, two years ago. They had celebrated a month of marriage just days before I arrived. And they were living out a truth I needed to revisit:

Every morning, instead of staying in bed, I saw Riley get up early to make breakfast for Josh. She packed his lunch. Later that evening, Josh helped with things around the house, instead of lounging around.

They were just small things that might have gone unnoticed had they not spoken loudly to me. In my own marriage, I had forgotten the true definition of love – putting the needs of my husband first.

Somewhere along the journey I’d fallen into the trap of selfishness. Time to refresh my definition of love and begin living it.

Jesus Christ is my ultimate example:

While on earth He demonstrated His love over and over. It was alive and active as He girded Himself with a towel and washed the disciples’ feet before His crucifixion. As He hung on the cross, His words were spoken out of concern for others. What a beautiful picture of a servant!

I love the way authors Mary Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss put it: “Jesus taught that true greatness comes by serving, not by selfishly seeking a position of authority…It’s not about getting; it’s about giving. It’s not about selfishness; it’s about selflessness.” (True Woman 101: Divine Design, p. 61)